More on Food and Drink

After much chatter surrounding its future, the BBC has announced it will be dropping a whole lot of content from its online output. The most controversial of these changes – all of which follow the publication of the government’s White Paper on the future of the BBC – is the decision to drop approximately 11,000 online recipes from the hugely popular BBC Food site.

A source has revealed that the service’s vast library of recipes is being “archived or mothballed”, and will “fall off the face of the internet” after the food site is closed. These plans will not affect commercial services such as BBC Good Food. However, as well as its Food website, the BBC plans to close its Newsbeat website, online News Magazine, Travel site, iWonder service and more over the next 12 months. The broadcaster also intends to reduce its digital radio and music social media activity, plus additional programme content that is not core to services.

It is said this will help the corporation to save £15m a year from its online budget, and to focus on its more “distinctive public service content”. The move comes after criticism that the BBC was not offering services that were distinct enough from newspapers.

Predictably, and quite rightly, an online petition to save the BBC’s recipe archive has attracted thousands of supporters so far, with campaigners branding it a “precious resource”. If you agree, click here to plead with the BBC to keep the recipes and find cost savings elsewhere.

More on Film

Where to enjoy the best Bond cocktails in London

James Bond is world renowned for his love of liquor. So we can’t think of any superior way to celebrate the release of latest Bond instalment Spectre, than by sitting back in a glitzy bar with a perfectly chilled martini in hand; shaken, not stirred, of course.

Here are our top tips for where to enjoy a Bond-themed beverage in the heart of London this October.

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DUKE’S BAR

Frequented by James Bond author Ian Fleming, Dukes Bar of Mayfair is said to be the inspiration for that iconic classic line about 007’s tipple of choice. Now, Alessandro Palazzi has created the ‘Fleming 89′. Created in partnership with London-based perfumery Floris, whose ’89’ Eau de Cologne was famously donned by Bond, this new martini is a sophisticated complement to the aroma of this quintessentially English gentleman’s fragrance.

These guys aren’t messing around! Look at that selection!

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FLEMINGS MAYFAIR

To celebrate Spectre, luxury boutique hotel Flemings Mayfair has launched a menu of James Bond-inspired cocktails in its newly launched Drawing Room. Among its new secret agent serves will be the ‘Belvedere Spectre 007 Martini’, which brings a Bond twist to the classic dirty Martini; ‘The Frost’, which is a sweet and sharp concoction of lychee liquor, fresh raspberry, sharp lime and vodka, in tribute to Bond girl Miranda Frost; and ‘The Fleming’, which is a sophisticated mix of Grand Marnier, Chambord and lime, taking its name from both the writer of the Bond franchise, and the hotel itself.

While Bond is a strictly British institution, The Savoy’s American Bar is known to serve some of the best cocktails in town, so obviously we had to include it. The swanky bar also happens to serve a cocktail named ‘Secret Agent’, consisting of Maker’s Mark bourbon, Cocchi Vermouth Amaro, fresh lemon juices, sugar syrup, absinthe, Laphroaig, and egg white. It will set you back £17 though, so if that’s pushing the boat out a little too far, check out our next drinking spot…

The Savoy’s ‘Secret Agent’ is a perfect Bond-themed beverage for those looking to branch out.

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BONDS

On a budget? While Bond probably wouldn’t frequent this Mayfair pub himself, it does take his name, and serves 2-for-1 cocktails every Friday and Saturday from 5pm till 10pm, so we figured it was worth a mention. Why not try something a bit different, with their Kahlúa Espresso Martini?

Bond on a budget: Bond’s offers 2-4-1 cocktails on Friday and Saturday evenings.

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DIY!

Going out is all well and good, but if you ask us, staying at home is where it’s at. For your chilly autumn evenings spent catching up on the Bond back-catalogue from your sofa, why not try your hand at the recipe for Bond’s ‘Vesper martini’, as described in the 1953 book, Casino Royale:

‘Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?’